Machine for applying metallic leaf.



A. BROOKE.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIOLEAF.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 19. I916.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF.

1,279,977. APPLICATION FILED APR 19. I916. Patentedseptlggty 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEC BROOKE, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Anne BROOKE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Machines for Applying Metallic Leaf, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means for feeding metallic leaf into or through machines for applying such leaf or for gold blocking or other similar purposes.

The present invention is an improvement upon my prior invention of the United States, patented 30th November, 1915, No. 1,162,448.

In the specification of my said prior patent I set forth the necessity for feeding the portions of the leaf up to the impressing device in such manner that they would be each brought successively to register with the device and, to the attainment of this end, I proposed the use of a regulating device characterized by adjustable supports, the movement of which enabled the distance traversed by the leaf to be regulated to suit.

I have found in practice, however, that the aforesaid regulating device was only suitable for relatively small lengths of cut leaf, whereas it is often desirable to work with strips of leaf whose lengths are only prescribed by the dimensional limits of the machine.

The present invention consists in providing improved feeding mechanism capable of imparting one or more pulling or feeding movements to the leaf during each complete operation of the impressing device, the pulling movements being designed to cause the exact registration of the portions of leaf with the impressing device; and the mechanism is also such that long strips of leaf can be conveniently operated on, and, further, the machine is, or may be, simplified by dispensing with the aforesaid regulating device. The pulling movements are capable of regulation so as to feed the exact length of leaf necessary to give, when cutting mechanism is used in the machine, the required severed portion of leaf and, als to feed the leaf intermittently in such steps as will insure the severed portions being, each, brought successively to register exactly with the impressing device at such times as the same is caused to lift the leaf, and the arrangement is such that this exact registration can be effected without the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 24, 1918 Application filed April 19, 1916.

Serial No. 92,137.

necessity of maintaining any definite ratio of the distance, separating the knife and the impressing device, to the length of leaf severed and fed.

A preferred form or embodimentof the invention is shown, merely by way of illustration or example, on the drawings appended hereto and forming part of this specification, and whereon:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a machine for applying metallic leaf constructed in accordance with my prior invention aforesaid and having the present improvements applied thereto. Only such parts as are necessary for a clear understanding of the invention are shown.

Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a sectional elevation and a plan of the improved feeding mechanism drawn to a larger scale, and

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show details hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring first to Fig. 1: 1 represents the applying or impressing device, or die. which is oscillatable, by arms 1*, 2 and suitable gearing 3 from the main or driving shaft 5, operated by hand or power, be-

tween the work table 2 and the table 3 over which latter the backing material 13 for the leaf, with the leaf thereon, is fed; 4 represents the cutting knife operable, by cam means 42, from the main or driving shaft 5; and 6, 7, represent the side frames of the machine.

The improved feeding mechanism comprises, according to the number of strips of leaf the machine is required to feed, one or more quadrantal, or other, arms 8. In the present instance two strips a, b, are shown as being dealt with and, two arms are shown as being used each carrying stops 11, 12, adjustablv fitted in slots 9, 10, respectively and between these stops passes the backing material 13. The arms 8 are secured to a shaft 14: turnably supported in brackets 15, 16, secured to the side frame 6 (Fig. 1) and oscillated up and down to cause the said stops to act on and deflect the backing material from its normal horizontal track and so pull and feed the leaf in the manner hereinafter described. Movement of the arms 8 is shown as being effected by cam action, a cam groove 17, (see the dotted lines Fig. 2) being provided in a disk or wheel 18 carried on the shaft 19, journaled in brackets 20, 21, and rotated by gearing 22, 23, from the main shaft 5. The action of the cam groove on a pin or roller 27 working therein (said pin or roller being carried at the end of an arm 24, fulcrumed at 25, to an extension 26 of the bracket 20,) causes the arm 24 to rock, the rocking movement being communicated by a connecting link 29 and arm 28 to the shaft 14, and thence to the arm 8.

At the one movement of each arm 8 the one stop say 11, is caused to act on and deflect the backing material upward from its normal horizontal track and, at the return movement, the other stop 12 is also caused to act on and deflect it downward in like manner.

To draw the material taut after each defiection friction rollers 30, 31, are provided and between which the backing material passes. The rollers are rotatably carried between brackets, 16, 32, the upper roller 30 bearing frictionally upon the lower one 31, which is driven by the disk or wheel 18 through the medium of a pinion 33 on the shaft or roller 31. Rotation of the rollers winds the deflected material taut after each deflection ready for the next deflecting movement.

Arranged in conjunction with the oscillating arms are two clamping or holding devices for the backing material the one comprising a pair of clamping jaws 34, 35, and adapted to hold the material between them, and the other comprising clamping jaws 36, 37, also adapted to hold the backing material. The jaw 34 is stationary, being supported between the brackets 16, 32,

- while the jaw 35 is rigidly carried on a shaft 38 journaled in said brackets and having, at its one end, an arm 39 carrying a roller 40 which bears, under the action of spring means (not shown) which normally constrain the jaw 35 to the open position, on a cam 41 on the shaft 19. The action of the cam causes the jaw 35 to move at certain intervals against the action of the said spring means to the closed position (this position being indicated at Fig. 2). Similarly, the jaw 36 is stationary between brackets 16, 42, and the jaw 37 on a shaft 43 rotatable in said brackets and having, at one end, an arm 44 carrying a roller 45 which bears, also under the action of spring means (not shown) normally constraining the j aw 37 to the open position (indicated at Fig. 2) on a cam 46 on the shaft 19. This cam likewise causes the jaw 37 to close at and for certain intervals. The cam mechanism for operating the clamps is so timed that the clamps operate alternately, the one being closed when the other is opened and vice versa.

51, 52, 53, and 54 are rods or bars supported in the brackets 16, 32, and 16, 19, the upper pair 51, 52, supporting the backing material during the deflection in the upward direction which takes place between the same, and the lower pair 53, 54, supporting it during the deflection in the downward direction. These rods are, preferably, removable to facilitate the initial passage of the material into and through the mechanism and to this end are shown provided with knobs or handles 55.

Before describing the opertion of the mechanism I will now explain, by reference to a practical example, the setting of the stops 11, 12, to give the desired length of leaf to be fed and severed and to insure each and every severed portion being properly presented to the impressing device or die. If, for instance, the distance between the knife edge and center line of the die is 4-1- inches and the severed portion desired 19,- inches long, then, to present each portion properly to the die, its foremost edge, at the time of contact therewith, must be 41} inches plus inch (half width of portion or die) i.e., 5%- inches from the knife edge. Four single feeding movements of 1;,- inches would bring the edge of the leaf 13,- 4:5 inches from the knife, or t; inch short of correct position. In this case the one stop would be set to pull the leaf inch and the other stop to pull 1%,- inches to give a total pull of 1;; inches. At the end of the fourth combined movement the edge of the first severed portion would, as before, be inch from the correct position when the knife would be acting to sever a fourth portion of leaf, but, at the next step, the leaf would be pulled {q inch, 110., to the correct position and the die, acting alternately with the knife, would contact with it in this position. At every succeeding operation of the die the leaf would be subjected to two pulling movements giving a total pull or feed of 1;; inches to bring the next portion ready to be lifted by the die. In a similar manner the required proportions of the pulling movements for any desired out can be determined and the stops 11, 12, set accordingly.

When the length of the severed portion happens to be exactly divisible into the length of track to be traveled by the leaf from the knife edge to the correct position under the die, it is obvious that either a single pulling or feeding movement can be given to the leaf, one stop being put out of operation or two combined movements can be given to effect the result.

The manner of securing the stops 11, 12, in the slots in the arms 8 is clearly shown at Figs. 4 and 5 where, as will be seen, the stop 11 is provided with a squared or flat tened portion 47 in engagement with the slot and is secured, at the desired position therein, by means of a screw nut 48. To facilitate the setting of the stops a scale 49 may be provided adjacent the slots (see Fig. 5) and the abutting flange portions 50 of the stops provided with an index mark or score, as indicated.

The mechanism operates as follows The backing material having been passed between the clamping jaws 36, 37, stops 11, 12, clamping jaws 35, 36, and rollers 30, 31, and the stops 11, 12, having been set to give the desired feed and out and the rods 52, 53, 54, 55, inserted in place, the machine is set in operation by rotating the crank shaft 5 thereby rotating, by the gearing 22, 23, the wheels 18 and 33 to operate the rollers 30, 31, and, at the same time, by action of the cam groove 17 through the arms 24, 28, and link 29, oscillate the arms 8. At the one movement of each arm 8 the one stop, say 11, is caused to act on and deflect the backing material upward from its normal track indicated by the chain dotted line 13. During this movement the clamping jaw 35 is held closed under the action of the cam 41 while the cam 46 is positioned to allow the clamping jaw 37 to open under the action of spring means (not shown) so that the backing material is pulled or fed in the direction of the arrow at Figs. 1 and 2. After the deflecting movement the cam 41 will have moved to a position to allow the jaw 35 to open and the cam 46 will have moved to close the jaw 37 and then the rollers, 30, 31, which have been revolving idly, act on the material and pull it taut, ready for the next deflection by the stop 12, at the return movement of the arm. During this movement the jaw 35 is again closed and the jaw 37 opened so that, as the arm 8 descends, the material is deflected downward, and, as a consequence, is again pulled or fed in the direction of the arrow 00, and, after such movement, the jaw 35 is opened and the aw 37 closed to allow the material to be again tightened by the action of the rollers 30, 31. These movements are repeated in proper sequence at every further rotation of the wheel 18 so that the leaf is fed automatically in steps which, combined, give the desired intermittent feed. I I prefer to make the arms adjustable about their supporting shaft 14 in order that any table of feeds which may have been prepared for the guidance of the machine operator for use in conjunction withthe scales 49, may be maintained effective in cases where the die block is not set or reset always exactly in the same place. To allow of such adjustment being effected each arm 8, as shown at Figs. 5 and 6, is rotatably fitted on a sleeve or liner 56 slidable on the shaft 14 the liner being held in osition on the shaft by a pinching screw 5 passing through a slot 58 in the boss 59 of the arm. The arm, in turn is held by a pinching screw 60. lVhen it is necessary to adjust the scale 49 this can be done readily by loosening the screw 60 and rotating the arm 8 on the liner 56 to the desired position when the screw is again tightened, the slot 58 permitting the necessary adjustment to be made without loosening or in any other way interfering with the screw 57.

Each arm 8 may be moved axially on the shaft 14, to suit the track of the backing material, by loosening the screw 57 whereupon the arm with its liner can be moved and when the desired position has been reached the screw can be again tightened to hold the arm in place.

In the present instance I have shown two strips of leaf a, 7), being fed through the machine and two arms being employed to deflect the two backing strips 13 and I have described the same as being equally deflected and therefore equally fed by means of the stops 11, 12, in the arms. In some cases however the one strip requires to be fed differently from the other so as to give larger or smaller severed portions and in such cases the stops on the arms would be adjusted accordingly. To insure that the backing strips are always drawn taut after each deflection, even although the deflection of the one backing strip may be different from that of the other, the roller 30 is split up into independent segments (see Fig. 3) all the segments being freely mounted on the roller shaft. It will be apparent that in some cases only one arm, or more than two arms, may be used, if desired, and although I have shown and described each arm with its stops as dealing with a single strip of backing material, obviously, in some cases where a number of leaf portions of equal length have to be severed it may be arranged to act simultaneously on a plurality of such strips, suitably spaced apart. It is also apparent that, when dealing with two strips, I may employ a single arm with two adjustable'stops, one on each side, adapted to act on the strips. In some cases, if so desired, the mechanism may be made to deal with portions of leaf of unequal length such, for instance, as alternate long and short portions.

Although I have described the machine as provided with a cutting knife this may be dispensed with or be thrown out of gear and portions of leaf of the desired length or lengths fed to the machine.

It is obvious that, in addition to or in lieu of, the rollers 30, 31, a spool, suitably operated from the machine, may be employed to wind the backing material thereon. It will i dividing the leaf into portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier and means for automatically imparting to the carrier, in sequence, a plurality of feed movements the sum of which gives the exact length of leaf to be divided at each operation of the leaf dividing means.

2. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf having leaf applying means and means separate from the applying means for dividing the leaf into portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier and means for automatically imparting to the carrier, in sequence, a plurality of feed movements the sum of which gives the exact length of leaf to be divided at each operation of the leaf dividing means and also insures the exact registration of the divided portions with the applying device.

3. In or for a machine for applying, by an applying device, metallic leaf in portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier, means for automatically imparting to the carrier, in sequence, feed movements which vary in length, and means for regulating the variable feed movements so that any two or more of such movements combined together shall give the feed necessary to the leaf portions to cause themto exactly register with the applying device 4. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf having means separate from the impressing device for dividing the leaf into portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier, means for continuously, without readjustment, imparting to the carrier, in sequence, variable feed movements and means for regulating the extent of these feed movements to insure the portions of leaf divided shall be of the length required at each application.

5. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf having means separate from the impressing device for dividing the leaf into portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier, means for automatically, without readjustment, imparting to the carrier alternate long and short feed movements and means for regulating the extent of these feed movements to insure the portions of leaf divided shall be of the length required at each application.

6. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf having means separate from the impressing device for dividing the leaf into portions and a device for applying the leaf portions, feeding mechanism for the leaf comprising a leaf carrier. means for imparting sequentially to the carrier feed movements which vary in length the summation of any two or more of such move ments giving the length of divided leaf required at each application of the applying device.

7. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf in portions, having mechanism ccmm'ising means for lifting and applying the leaf po'rtlons to the work and means for operating said means, of means whereby sequential differential feeding movements are given to the leaf portions, these movements, in combination, causing the leaf portions to exactly register with theleaf applying means.

8. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf in portions, feeding mechanism comprising a flexible carrier for the leaf portions and automatic means for imparting continuously and without readjustment intermittent differential feeding movements to the carrier so as to bring the leaf portions thereon into exact registration with the impressing device of the machine.

9. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf having means for lifting and applying the leaf to the work and means separate from the impressing device for dividing the leaf into portions, means whereby a plurality of feeding movements is given to the leaf between each lifting operation of the lifting and applyingmeans to cause each divided leaf-portion to exactly register with the lifting and applying means at such time as the same come into lifting contact with the portion.

. 10. In a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combinaion, a carrier for the metallic leaf, means for imparting intermittent feeding movements of variable length to the carrier by deflecting the same,

and means for regulating the extent of each deflection.

11. In a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a carrier for the metallic leaf, means for vertically deflecting the carrier first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, means for holding one part of the carrier during the deflecting movement and releasing it after each such movement, means for drawing the carrier at each such release and means for holding another part of the carrier dur ing each such drawing movement.

12. In a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a carrier for the metallic leaf, angularly moving means for intermittently deflecting the car rier so as to feed thesame, means for holding and supporting the carrier at each deflecting movement and means for regulating the extent of each deflection.

13. In a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a plurality of flexible carriers for the leaf, angularly moving means for deflecting each carrier first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, means for holding one part of each carrier during the deflecting movement and releasing it after each such movement.

14. In a machine for applying metallic leaf having a device for lifting and applying the leaf to the work, means for operating said device, and means for dividing the leaf into portions, of a carrier for the divided leaf and means for imparting without readjustment of parts differential movements to the carrier to cause the divided leaf portions thereon {to exactly register with the device when the same comes into lifting contact with the leaf.

15. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a plurality of flexible tapes supporting the leaf, means whereby each tape can be deflected so as to feed the leaf intermittently, means for regulating the extent of each deflecting movement imparted to each tape, and rollers acting to draw each tape taut after each deflecting movement.

16. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, means supporting the carriers, a number of arms, studs carried by the arms and means for actuating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf.

17. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, means supporting the carriers, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms and means for actuating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf.

18. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, means supporting the carriers, a number of arms supported so as to be capable of oscillation and having guides therein, studs adjustably fltted in the guides and means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf.

19. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, means supporting the carriers, a number of arms supported so as to be capable of oscillation and having guides therein, studs adjustably fitted in the guides and cam means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf.

20. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms each having slots therein, studs adjustable in the slots and means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers first in one direction and then in an opposite direction and so feed the leaf.

21. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, ible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms supported so as to be capable of oscillation and each" having slots therein, studs adjustable in the slots and cam means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to defleet the carriers first in one direction and then in an opposite direction and so feed the leaf intermittently.

22. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, means supporting the carriers, a number of arms supported so as to be capable of oscillation and having slots therein, studs adjustably fitted in the slots, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

23. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms supported so as to be capable of oscillation and each having slots therein, studs adjustable in the slots, cam means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers first in one direction and then in an opposite direction and so feed the leaf intermittently, rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

24. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs a'djustably carried by the arms, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, and clamping means .for holding the carriers during each deflecting movement.

25. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, clamping jaws, means for actuating .said clamping jaws to hold the carriers during each deflecting movement, rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

in combination, flex- 26. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, a pair of clamping jaws arranged on each side of the studs and between which the carriers pass, means for actuating said clamping jaws to hold the carriers the one pair during each deflecting movement and the other pair after each such movement, rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

27. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, clamping jaws, cam means for actuating said clamping aws to hold the carriers during each deflecting movement, rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

, -28. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms, means for oscillating the arms and causing the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, a pair of clamping jaws arranged on each side of the studs and between which the carriers pass, cam means for actuating said clamping jaws to hold the carriers the one pair during each deflecting movement and the other pair after each such movement, and rollers between which the carriers pass and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

29. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, fiexible carriers for the leaf, a number of arms, studs adjustably carried by the arms,means for actuating the arms so as to cause the studs to deflect the carriers and so feed the leaf, a pair of clamping jaws arranged on each side of the studs and between which the carriers pass, means for actuating said clamping jaws to hold the carriers the one pair during each deflecting movement and the other pair after each such movement, a pair of rollers between which the carriers pass the one roller being split up into independent segments, and means for rotating said rollers to draw each carrier taut after each deflecting movement.

30. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a turnably supported shaft, quadrantal arms adjustable on said shaft and provided with slots, studsadjustable in said slots, cam means for oscillating said shaft and causing the studs to deflect the carriers, clamps for holding the carriers, cam means for actuating said clamps, rollers for drawing the carriers taut after each deflecting movement and gearing for rotating the rollers.

31. In or for a machine for applying metallic leaf of the kind referred to, feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, flexible carriers for the leaf, a turnably supported shaft, liners slidable on the shaft, quadrantal arms on the liners and provided with slots, .screw means securing said arms, studs adjustable in said slots, cam means for oscillating said shaft and causing the studs to deflect the carriers, clamps for holding the carriers, cam means for actuating said clamps, rollers for drawing the carriers taut after each deflecting movement and gearing for rotating the rollers.

32. In a machine for applying metallic leaf having means for lifting and applying the leaf to the work and means for operating said means, means whereby a plurality of variable feeding movements is given to the leaf between each lifting operation of the lifting and applying means, and means for cutting the leaf.

33. In a machine for applying metallic leaf having a device for lifting and applying the leaf to the work and means for operating said device, means for cutting the leaf into portions, a carrier for the cut leaf and means for imparting differential step by step movements to the carrier to cause the leaf portions thereon to exactly register with the device when the same comes into lifting contact with the leaf.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEC BROOKE.

Witnesses:

J. P. BEEGHER, J. N. McCUNN, "Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

